Tag: trends

We’ve found an excellent source detailing the types of animation in web design.

One of the main web design trends in 2016 is animation. No longer a optional extra, animation is often expected by the user. As well as looking nice, animation provides excellent visual feedback to user’s interactions. They can also save crucial screen space by bridging the gap between main screens and navigation menus. Done well, these interactions can be seamless and non-invasive.

Animation is also excellent for drawing attention. Hover animations (still the sole domain of laptops and desktop computers), show interactive elements of a website. A well-placed animation or two can also guide the user through a website and help steer them in the right (or desired) direction.

In this image-driven age of the internet, galleries and slideshow animation are especially important. Loading animations help distract the user from the inconvenience of waiting. Scrolling nimation may not be glamorous, but without it, we’d still be living with literal web pages. Animation with no purpose other than looking pretty also have their place in brand identity and web presence.

For a full breakdown of these types of animation accompanied with examples, check out the link below.

A natural combination

Pink and blue are two very distinct colours. However, these calming tones are present in natural landscapes such as flowers, glaciers, seascapes, and underwater life. Other photographs capture the striking pink and blue combination in architecture, homeware and even children’s sweets. Other works include digital art, fashion photography and photoshoots involving ice cream, cocktails and currency.

Seeing all these images collected together is a sensation for the senses. Seeing how much the gentle pink and calming blue occur naturally is fascinating – it’s similar to the experience of learning a new word and then hearing it everywhere. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to use the colour combination, or just want to zone out with the tranquil imagery, this gallery is a great place to start.

While it may be tempting to adopt the latest style, there are things to consider before embracing a trend. Jumping on every device, meme or design layout can be exhausting and pointless if badly considered. Taking a step back from the bandwagons and asking a few simple questions can save you from making a change for change’s sake.

Part three of our Web Design Trends 2016. This time, we’re looking at how design and aesthetic combine to deliver an online experience.

Telling a story

It’s not just about attention spans, it’s about presentation. Nowadays, getting a brand message across takes more than just a wall of text or a few bullet points. Combine the trends of natural stock photography and personalised, illustrative presentation with increased online performance and you have the base for a rich user experience that can be classified as a journey.

For branding work, it’s also essential to have a grasp of the brand itself beyond aesthetics. This type of presentation requires deep planning, storyboarding, and a focus on what story you want to tell. It’s intensive work, but can produce great outcomes, and some beautiful, well-designed sites.

Not-so-stock photography

Stock photography as we know it is fast falling out of favour. This is happening for many reasons. Firstly, overuse has led to contempt. Secondly, the rise of social media and visual platforms has only highlighted the gulf between genuine photos and cheesy setups. Thirdly, the human brain is very visual, meaning that in combination with the first two points, the stock in such photography is plummeting, if you pardon the pun.

This doesn’t mean that stock photography will cease to exist (or if you pardon another pun, continued to be stocked); it’s just going to start looking far more natural, personable, and less posed.

When stock photography isn’t used, expect to see it replaced by some of the others aesthetic web design trends, such as…

2015 is coming to a close, so it’s time to look at web design trends for 2016. We’ve broken them down into categories of Design, Look and Experience. First up: The Design.

Mobile design

We’ll be touching on many individual trends through this feature, but it’s worth bearing in mind that most of them have evolved from the rise of smartphones and tablets. The minimalist presentation and touch-screen interaction that mobile devices require have irreversibly influenced browser design (yes, Material Design is on the list!), so expect to see its influence in all aspects of UI/UX.